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'It was a terrible tackle'
31/05/2008 08:35 - (SA)
New York - Adrian Serioux's foul against Los Angeles' David Beckham on May 18 drew an additional $1 000 fine from Major League Soccer for the FC Dallas defender.
Serioux was ejected in the 75th minute of the game for a two-footed, studs-up tackle from behind near the touchline, causing an automatic $250 fine. The additional penalty was assessed on Friday "in the context of quotes attributed to Serioux in England's Sun newspaper in February 2007 and comments made by the player immediately following the challenge, as well as the nature of the challenge itself", the league said.
"MLS will not tolerate words or actions, whether on or away from the field, that improperly target any player for physical aggression," commissioner Don Garber said. "Any further transgressions of this kind will be dealt with more harshly."
Beckham received a yellow card after he got into a shoving match with Arturo Alvarez and Serioux, who brought Beckham down with the Galaxy leading 4-1. Los Angeles eventually won 5-1.
"It was a terrible tackle. I could have broken my leg," Beckham said after the game. "It's not my decision to give out cards. The player (Serioux) was saying, 'Welcome, baby, welcome,' afterward."
In the Sun, Serioux was quoted as saying: "His salary and lifestyle has a lot of players thinking, 'We've dedicated our lives to the game and will have nothing to retire on.' He's great for MLS, but me and a few others are going after him. He's made us feel unappreciated. If Beckham can't handle it, he can play ping pong or tennis. ... There'll be no line to cross with him. I don't have a line. If he's on the ball, he's there to be hit hard."
Serioux is guaranteed to make $125 900 this season. The fine is comparable others issued to coaches and players for publicly criticising referees, but far short of the league record $10 000 levied against Houston's Ricardo Clark - in addition to a 10-game suspension - for kicking FC Dallas striker Carlos Ruiz last season.
- AP
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